American naval captain B. F. Pinkerton is exploring the world in the name of pleasure. “Life is not worth living if I can’t win the best and fairest of each country,” he declares. He sets his sights on the best and fairest of this land (Japan) – the stunning Japanese beauty Cio-Cio-San. Pinkerton is fascinated by her exotic beauty and marries her on sight, while Cio-Cio-San, enthralled by his American ways and promise of a modern life in America, falls wholeheartedly in love with the stranger. But Pinkerton already has a foot out the door, looking forward to the day he will marry “a real wife, a wife from America.” Several years pass, and Cio-Cio-San waits faithfully for her husband’s return from distant shores. Long abandoned by her family, she is alone with her servant Suzuki and a living memento of her American love. She refuses all offers of marriage, singing of her great hope for the day Pinkerton will return. The faithful Suzuki tries in vain to convince her to abandon hope. When his ship comes into port, Pinkerton is not alone. As dawn breaks, what will become of Butterfly’s great hope?
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Sung in Italian with English Supertitles.
CIO-CIO-SAN – Soprano Ashley Galvani Bell
B.F. PINKERTON – Tenor Gregory Turay
SHARPLESS – Baritone Michael Nansel
SUZUKI – Mezzo Soprano Ashley Armstrong
GORO – Tenor John Easterlin
THE BONZE – Basso Vladimir Hristov
KATE PINKERTON – Soprano Kelly Whitesell
YAMADORI – Tenor Jeremy Sivitz
Conductor – Maestro Adrian Sylveen
Chorus Master – Dara Blackstone
Giorgio Lalov – Artistic Director/Sets and Costumes
Composer: Giacomo Puccini
Librettist: Luigi Illica & Giuseppe Giacosa
About Teatro Lirico d’Europa
Teatro Lirico d’Europa has produced over 700 performances in 120 different venues across the United States after decades of success performing for European audiences. The company delivers traditional, full-scale productions featuring a professional orchestra and chorus and world-class soloists.
CONTENT WARNING: This production includes depictions of suicide and child brides (Cio-Cio San is 15 years old).
